Yes, Donald Trump, There Are Muslim Star Athletes in America

The Republican candidate was stunned by Barack Obama’s affirmation that the U.S. has practicing Muslim athletes. Let’s take a look at its athletic culture.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, following the San Bernardino shooting in California, President Barack Obama wanted to remind his fellow citizens that “Muslim-Americans are our friends and our neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes.” Without a second’s thought, wannabe-president Donald Trump responded on Twitter by posing this question: “Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?”

Republicans are incredible. When they need to prove that Barack Obama is Muslim they are capable of inventing absurd theories, but as soon as they must name a single Muslim champion, they’ve got nothing. It is otherwise rather surprising that the country has many practicing athletes of the Muslim faith.

The Republican primary’s candidate could have easily discovered this if he had done an Internet search before Tweeting. He would have at least found the Wikipedia page which lists famous Muslim-American celebrities.

There one finds about 30 names including some legends:

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali. On Feb. 26, 1964, after having earned his first heavyweight world title, the boxer then known as Cassius Clay revealed his conversion to Islam.

Mike Tyson. The boxer converted to Islam during his incarceration between 1992 and 1995. On Dec. 6, 2013, he remarked on his religious beliefs on Fox News and recalled that he “has need of Allah.”

Basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The greatest scorer in the history of the NBA converted to Islam in 1968.

Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal. Very private about his religious beliefs, the giant basketball player revealed in 2010 that he was considering make his pilgrimage to Mecca.

And if [Trump] watches neither basketball nor boxing, not to worry: dozens of American football players believe in Islam as well.

Overly forgetful, the candidate with the golden locks often posed with these athletes and even received the Muhammad Ali prize in 2007, right from the champion boxer himself. Luckily, Twitter had plenty of pictures to refresh his memory.